8831664

System and Method for Providing Channel Configurations in a Communications Environment

PublishedSeptember 9, 2014
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method, comprising: monitoring media streams associated with channels in a communication environment; receiving an alert in one of the media streams; and elevating a priority associated with the media stream receiving the alert, such that an adjustment is made to how the media stream is provisioned to an endpoint in the communication environment.

Plain English Translation

A system monitors audio/video streams within a communication environment (e.g., conference call, broadcast). If an alert is received within one of the streams, the system increases the importance of that stream. This "importance increase" adjusts how the stream is delivered to the user's device or endpoint, making it more noticeable.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves making the audio of the stream louder. This ensures the user hears the alert more clearly.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority comprises changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves changing the perceived direction of the audio for the stream, so that the user perceives the alert coming from a different location.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert and changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves both making the audio of the alert stream louder and changing its perceived spatial direction.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority comprises rendering the media stream receiving the alert to a priority spatial direction.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves playing the audio of the alert stream from a pre-defined "priority" location, such as directly in front of the user, regardless of its original placement.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority includes identifying a primary channel and rendering the alert message to the primary channel.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves identifying a main communication channel and then playing the alert sound through that main channel, even if the alert originated in a different stream.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein elevating the priority includes turning a volume down on media streams not receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves reducing the volume of all streams *except* the one containing the alert. This focuses the user's attention on the alert.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert is received in a header of a packet of the media stream.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. The alert signal is embedded inside the data stream itself, specifically in a header portion of a data packet containing the audio or video.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert is received in a control packet of the media stream.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. The alert signal arrives in a dedicated control packet separate from the main audio/video data, but related to the specific stream.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alert is duplicated and rendered at a higher volume.

Plain English Translation

The system described above monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. When an alert is received, the alert message is duplicated. One copy is played at the original volume, and the other copy is played at a higher volume to emphasize the alert.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. Non-transitory readable media that includes code for execution and when executed by a processor operable to perform operations comprising: monitoring media streams associated with channels in a communication environment; receiving an alert in one of the media streams; and elevating a priority associated with the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

This describes a computer-readable storage medium containing instructions. When a processor executes these instructions, the system monitors audio/video streams within a communication environment. If an alert is received within one of the streams, the system increases the importance of that stream.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The non-transitory readable media of claim 11 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable storage medium described above contains instructions to monitor media streams and elevate the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves making the audio of the stream louder.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The non-transitory readable media of claim 11 , wherein elevating the priority comprises changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable storage medium described above contains instructions to monitor media streams and elevate the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves changing the perceived direction of the audio for the stream, so that the user perceives the alert coming from a different location.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The non-transitory readable media of claim 11 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert and changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable storage medium described above contains instructions to monitor media streams and elevate the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves both making the audio of the alert stream louder and changing its perceived spatial direction.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The non-transitory readable media of claim 11 , wherein elevating the priority includes identifying a primary channel and rendering the alert message to the primary channel.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable storage medium described above contains instructions to monitor media streams and elevate the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves identifying a main communication channel and then playing the alert sound through that main channel, even if the alert originated in a different stream.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. An apparatus, comprising: a memory element; a processor; and a management element stored in the memory element and configured to interface with the processor such that the apparatus is configured for: monitoring media streams associated with channels in a communication environment; receiving an alert in one of the media streams; and elevating a priority associated with the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The system includes a memory, a processor, and a "management element" (software). The software configures the system to monitor audio/video streams within a communication environment. If an alert is received within one of the streams, the system increases the importance of that stream.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus (system with memory and processor) monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves making the audio of the stream louder.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein elevating the priority comprises changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus (system with memory and processor) monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves changing the perceived direction of the audio for the stream, so that the user perceives the alert coming from a different location.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein elevating the priority comprises increasing the volume of the media stream receiving the alert and changing a spatial direction for rendering the media stream receiving the alert.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus (system with memory and processor) monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves both making the audio of the alert stream louder and changing its perceived spatial direction.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein elevating the priority includes identifying a primary channel and rendering the alert message to the primary channel.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus (system with memory and processor) monitors media streams and elevates the priority of streams with alerts. Specifically, increasing the priority involves identifying a main communication channel and then playing the alert sound through that main channel, even if the alert originated in a different stream.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

September 9, 2014

Inventors

Shmuel Shaffer
Steven Christenson

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Cite as: Patentable. “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONS IN A COMMUNICATIONS ENVIRONMENT” (8831664). https://patentable.app/patents/8831664

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